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Kikkan Randall diagnosed with breast cancer, prognosis good

By Nick ZaccardiJul 11, 2018, 12:08 PM EDT

Kikkan Randall, who helped the U.S. to its first Olympic cross-country skiing title in PyeongChang, was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.

“The color pink has taken on a new chapter in my life as I was recently diagnosed with breast cancer,” was posted on Randall’s social media and confirmed by U.S. Ski and Snowboard. “Although we caught it early and the prognosis is good, my life will change quite a bit in the coming months. I have returned to Anchorage for treatment at @providencealaska Cancer Center. It’s a scary thing to learn you have cancer and I have wondered every day since how this could have possibly happened to me. But I have promised myself that I will remain positive and active and determined throughout my treatment. I am going to bring as much tenacity, strength, and energy toward this challenge as I have throughout my entire career.

“I began my first round of chemo on Monday surrounded by great friends and family. I made to sure get a gym workout in beforehand, rode my bike to and from the hospital, and wore my happy shoes. I will be using my blog to keep everyone posted through my upcoming journey.”

Randall, a five-time Olympian, joined Jessie Diggins to win the team sprint in PyeongChang, ending the U.S. Olympic cross-country skiing title drought.

It also marked the second U.S. Olympic cross-country medal of any color and first in a women’s event. Bill Koch earned 30km silver at Innsbruck 1976.

Randall, a 35-year-old mom, retired after the PyeongChang Games.

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Austria pulls out of 2026 Winter Olympic bidding

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By Nick ZaccardiJul 6, 2018, 8:50 AM EDT

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Austria withdrew its 2026 Winter Olympic bid — centered on Graz, its second-largest city — citing a lack of political backing.

Austria’s Olympic Committee informed the International Olympic Committee on Friday it ended the bid, according to a press release.

Graz’s withdrawal leaves five countries in the running for the 2026 Winter Games, due to be awarded by IOC members vote next year — Canada (Calgary), Italy (Cortina d’Ampezzo/Milan/Torino), Japan (Sapporo), Sweden (Stockholm) and Turkey (Erzurum). One or more of those nations’ bids could hinge on public votes, too.

Switzerland also entered the bid race before the spring deadline, but its Sion bid was rejected by public vote last month.

Austria, fourth all time in Winter Olympic medals, hosted the Winter Games in Innsbruck in 1964 and 1976. It lost in Olympic bidding for 2002 (Graz), 2006 (Klagenfurt), 2010 (Salzburg) and 2014 (Salzburg).

A planned Innsbruck bid for the 2026 Winter Games was dropped in October after defeat in a public vote.

Graz shares a province with Schladming, host of the 1982 and 2013 World Alpine Skiing Championships.

IOC president Thomas Bach has said he hopes the Winter Olympics can return to a more traditional location after PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022, which USOC chairman Larry Probst called “code for Europe or North America.”

The U.S. prefers is expected to bid for the 2030 Olympics — with one of Salt Lake City, Denver and Reno-Tahoe.

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Shaun White enters skateboard contests, eyes lighter snowboard schedule

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By Nick ZaccardiJul 2, 2018, 6:22 PM EDT

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Shaun White said he will compete in skateboarding contests this summer and decide afterward whether he will bid for the sport’s Olympic debut in 2020.

White is entered in next week’s Vans Park Series in Vancouver, according to his manager.

“I’ve entered myself in a couple of skateboard competitions this summer,” White said in a video on his social media. “I haven’t officially decided to go for the Summer Olympics in 2020 in Japan, but I’m going to go try myself out at these events and see where I stack up with the other skaters, then make the decision. But I’m definitely not retiring from the sport of snowboarding. I love it too much. I can’t walk away just yet. But in order to pursue this dream of going to the Summer Olympics, I’m going to probably take a lighter snowboarding season next year.”

White earned his third Olympic snowboard halfpipe title in PyeongChang and has said for years he was intrigued by Olympic skateboarding.

White also lightened his snowboard contest schedule in the two seasons following his fourth-place finish at the Sochi Olympics.

In skateboarding, White earned five X Games medals between 2005 and 2011, but all of those came in vert, which is not on the Olympic program.

The two Olympic skateboarding events are street and park.

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